Poultry-car ventilator



W. P.-JOHNSON POULTRY CAR VENTILATOR July 24, 1928.

Filed Jan. 30, 1928 Y W WM Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED{STATES 1,678,393 P ATE 5 55 1 .WALDO r. cronnson, or onrorioo; ILLINOIS.

Application filed January 30, 1928.- Serial-No. 250,479.

This invention relates to improvements in poultry cars and more especially to ventilators therefor.

One of the features of my invention is improved mechanism for closing the ventilator of a poultry car from the inside of the car.

Another feature of my invention is a guard for protectingthe ventilators against damage, such guard also serving to form a shield for the rope used in closing the ventilator.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In that form of device-embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a poultry car, Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the line 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary similar view on an enlarged scale.

As shown in the drawings, the car is of the usual box car type provided with a central aisle and tiers of coops 11 on each side.

Above the central aisle is the customary raised running board supported on the saddles 13 in the usual manner. The running board 12 is ordinarily slightly narrower than the aisle 10,and being raised above the roof 14- of the car, there is a space left for ventilation. Fitted over this space is a door or ventilator 15 hinged. at its lower edge to the roof 14: as indicated by 16. The ventilating doors 15, for example, may be mad-e of sheet metal. When in closed position as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3, the door 15 rests against the saddles 13. VV-hen in open position as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 3, the door lies on the roof 1 Such doors as described above have been in common use on cars of this type for ventilators. Heretofore, however, in order to close the same it was necessary for the attendant to go outside on the roof of the car. Such ventilators as heretofore made could not be closed, from the inside of the car. Obviously, they could be easily opened from the inside by merely pushing them open with a stick.

One of the features of my invention is the provision of means for closing such ventilators from the inside of the car. This is accomplished as follows. The door 15 near its upper edge is provided with a screw eye 17 to which is attached a rope 18 leading over a pulley '19 attached to the roof of the car.

' POULTRY-CAB, vEN'rILA'roR.

The lower end of therope 18. is provided with a hand grip 18 within easy reach ofan attendant. When the door 15 is open, it-may be easily closed; from the inside of the car by pulling on the rope 18.

Heretofore such doors when open and lying on the roof of the car frequently have been damaged by trainmen walking thereon. In order to prevent this, I provide over the doors one or more curbed guard bars as indicated by 20. The upper ends of these bars are fastened to the edge of the running board 12 and the lower ends may be free as shown, or attached to the roof of the car, as desired. These guard. bars 20 being curved permit operation of the ventilating doors under the same and also prevent trainmen from walking on said doors in passing to and fro on the top of the car. These guard bars 20 are preferably arranged over the ropes 18 and thus they also serve to protect said ropes from damage.

Vi hile I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is-my intention to claim all novelty in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

hat I claim is new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A ventilated car roof having a longitudinal opening in its center, saddle irons extending across said longitudinal opening at intervals and supporting a running board in elevated position above the car roof; ventilating doors hinged to the car roof adjacent said opening and adapted to be swung from open position on said roof to closed po sition against said saddle irons; means for closing said doors from inside of the car, said means including a flexible member having one end attached to the door, thence passing over a pulley mounted on the underside of the running board, the other end of said flexible member hanging within reach of an attendant in the car; and a curved guard member mounted above said door, one end of said guard member being attached to said running board.

2. A ventilated car roof having a longitudinal opening in its centensaddle irons extending across said longitudinal opening at intervals and supporting a running board in elevated position above the car roof; ventilating doors hinged to the car roof adjacent said opening and adapted to be swung from open position on said roof to closed posit-ion against said saddle irons; means for closing said doors from inside of the car, said means including a flexible member having one end attached to the door, thence passing over a pulley mounted on the underside of the running board, the other end of said flexible member hanging Within reach of an attendant in the car; and a guard member mounted above said door, oneend of said guard mensber being attached to said running board, said guard member lying over said flexible member When the ventilating door is in open position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of January, 1928.

WALDO- P. JOHNSON. 

